Chapter 18

 

Ranjish hi sahi…

Dil hee dukhane ke liye aaaaa…

Aa phir se mujhe chod ke jaane ke liye aaaaa…

Ranjish hi sahi…

 

Part 16:

 

Shocked as well as touched by the fact that Angad still remembered something that even she had forgotten, Kripa entered her apartment with a pang of guilt rising in her heart. Atleast she could have replied him or wished him as well. But then again, he didn't wait for her to response. She thanked god mentally that it was Sunday, because she didn't want to come across Angad, atleast today.

 

 

Kripa stretched her hands and yawned heavily before leaping out of the bed. Reviewing the stuff she had planned to do on that day, she cooked breakfast for herself. Pay a visit to Mrs. Bose, the lady was pretty insistent on meeting her for some time. Then she had to check on the new house that Prithvi had searched for her. She just hoped that she liked it because she was pretty desperate on leaving this place as soon as possible. Dressing herself up, she collected her car keys and went off, exhausting it was going to be.

 

 

Kripa checked on the address once again, before pressing the bell of the old fashioned bungalow. Prithvi greeted her on the door with a smile and lead her to the drawing room occupied by the two old ladies, one of them being Mrs. Bose and other was Prithvi's aunt and the owner of this place, Kripa assumed. As soon as Kripa reached there, Mrs. Bose walked to her and caught her in large warm hug. Smiling affectionately, she cupped her face and kissed her forehead. Wiping out the tears welling up in her eyes, Kripa helped her to sit back at her place.

 

They engaged themselves in the random conversation while having tea.

"So Kripa, what about your husband?" Prithvi's aunt asked Kripa suddenly, causing her to choke on her tea for a second.

 

Holding herself Kripa answered, "We were separated two years back."

 

"Oh why?" she asked again. The lady was too talkative by nature, Kripa concluded. Now what was she supposed to say. But before Kripa could say anything, Mrs. Bose butted in.

 

"Arrey that man used to fight with Kripa. I tell you sujata, what a terrible man he was…he used to suspect poor girl… and his temper I tell you." She said, describing what a terrible husband Angad was.

 

Kripa suddenly felt angry, her fingers tightened around the cup she was holding. She respected Bose aunty a lot, but why the heck she is criticizing Angad in front of a third person.

 

"U know what he did once…" Mrs. Bose continued on her criticism, but was cut off by Kripa in between, "Actually aunty, Angad is a little short tempered. And then there were some misunderstandings that couldn't be sorted out, so we just parted ways." Before anyone could respond to her words, Kripa got up and faced Prithvi, "Prithvi, can you take me to that house now, its already late." Saying this she went out.

 

 

Prithvi took Kripa to the house he had seen for her. Leaving her there, he excused himself for an important pending work. It was a large cottage made a little away from city, in the north east of New York. Kripa was invited in by an American woman in her late 40s or early 50s. She took Kripa in one part of cottage a little aloof of rest of cottage. Kripa really liked it. It was a plain room with wooden floor and light coloured walls. There were wooden twin beds in centre, a wooden cupboard and some paintings on wall. A small kitchen and a bathroom. This was enough for her and inspite of being small; here was warmth in its air that made it so homely. The reason was enough for her to take it up. The only thing was it was extremely distant from her office. But of course u cannot get everything at this price, she thought chuckling to herself. Her part of cottage has a separate door for privacy, as the rest of place was occupied by women and her family.

 

Settling up the initial charges, Kripa hurried to go back to motel to collect her things. She wanted to shift as soon as possible. Hiring a van on her way back, she packed up her things with the help of motel attendants and checked out. She felt a little guilty for not informing Angad about her checking out, but let it pass.

 

By 6:45 pm, she was all settled down. Well not really, but atleast she had got all her things in her room now. Now all she had to do was to arrange them but, god she was too tired to do it. She thanked Aamna mentally for inviting her over for dinner because she had no strength to make it herself now. She walked over to the window at the back and opened it. The sight made her heart flip. In hurry of taking it up, she didn't even realize that this home offered a slight view of the distant snowy hills. Being at the plains, the high rise hills were slightly visible from the cottage. A small village was settled on the hills as well. The memories came rushing back.

 

This was the place where she and Angad had spent the two days of there honeymoon. Angad was new to his job and couldn't afford to have a long leave. This was the nearest destination they could have. However, the days she had spent in a small cosy cottage of the village on hills consisted some of most beautiful moments of her life. Sighing, Kripa closed the window and hurried to leave for Aamna's house.

 

 

 

Kripa was received at the door by Aamna warmly. She led her in and to Kripa's surprise she saw Angad sitting inside along with Rajeev. Guilt crept inside her once again causing her to lower her eyes.

Sensing the uncomfortable silence between them, Rajeev and Aamna decided to set the dinner and announced gaily, "Time for dinner, LETS GO."

 

Angad and Kripa sat beside each other on the round dinner table. Kripa saw Rajeev fussing over Aamna's eating habits, as he stopped her from eating too spicy and forced her to gobble up all her soup. It made her smile. It was so wonderful, how a child strengthens the relationship between two people. Kripa stole a glance at Angad from the corner of her eyes and saw him looking at Aamna and Rajeev intently. There was something in his eyes that she couldn't make out. A little pain and a tiny dream may be.

 

 

After having a little after meal chat, Kripa got up to leave when Aamna stopped her, "Kripa, Angad will drop you. I saw u coming by a cab sweety, so no lying."

 

"I will manage." Kripa said meekly, not wanting to look at Angad.

 

"I will drop you." Angad said getting up as well.

 

"Actually…wo…I…" Kripa stammered.

 

"What, common it's only a stupid lift." Angad said a little irritated.

 

"Actually, I have changed my house." Kripa said looking down.

 

"You can give me directions." Angad said after a little pause, she could sense the hurt in his voice.

 

 

Angad and Kripa had a silent ride to her new place, making long distance even longer.

"Raj and Aamna were looking so happy." Angad said suddenly.

 

"Yes, after all they r expecting there first kid." Kripa said dreamily, she still vividly remembered the discussions they used to have about children.

 

"A child is so significant in a relationsip, hai na." he said, focusing on road.

 

Kripa just nodded in reply.

 

On reaching home, Kripa hesitantly invited him in. to her great surprise, he didn't object once and came in. Not knowing what to say, Kripa turned to go to kitchen, when his voice stopped her, "Kripa I wanted to say something."

 

Kripa's stomach churned sensing that something bad was coming her way.

 

"I am leaving." He said.

 Kripa felt her heart thudding against her chest, what does that mean? She turned to face him and asked palely, "leaving?"

 

"Yes, I am leaving. I realized that I can't live here anymore, in New York I mean. I am going back to Chicago…in two weeks as soon as your play ends." He said and marched out of the door leaving Kripa numb.

 

Angad is leaving…leaving her again. Why did he come back if he had to go back again? Her mind cried. She felt despair overpowering her as she stood there staring at the open door from which Angad had just marched out.

 

 

Kis kisko batayenge judai ki tadap hum…

Tu mujhse khafa hai to zamane ke liye aaaa…

Ranjish hi sahi…

Dil hee dukhane ke liye aaaaa…

 

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Finally I updated yay lol…I noe its difficult 4 u to cop up wid my irregular update…but oh well…hope u liked it!!!